View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-wars-that-inspired-game-of-thrones-alex-gendler
Beginning around 1377, medieval England was shaken by a power struggle between two noble families, which spanned generations and involved a massive cast of characters, complex motives and shifting loyalties. Sound familiar? Alex Gendler illustrates how the historical conflict known as the Wars of the Roses served as the basis for much of the drama in Game of Thrones.
Lesson by Alex Gendler, animation by Brett Underhill.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-philosophy-of-stoicism-massimo-pigliucci
What is the best life we can live? How can we cope with whatever the universe throws at us and keep thriving nonetheless? The ancient Greco-Roman philosophy of Stoicism explains that while we may not always have control over the events affecting us, we can have control over how we approach things. Massimo Pigliucci describes the philosophy of Stoicism.
Lesson by Massimo Pigliucci, animation by Compote Collective.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/plato-s-allegory-of-the-cave-alex-gendler
Twenty four hundred years ago, Plato, one of history’s most famous thinkers, said life is like being chained up in a cave forced to watch shadows flitting across a stone wall. Beyond sounding quite morbid, what exactly did he mean? Alex Gendler unravels Plato's Allegory of the Cave, found in Book VII of "The Republic."
Lesson by Alex Gendler, animation by Stretch Films, Inc.

View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-makes-muscles-grow-jeffrey-siegel
We have over 600 muscles in our bodies that help bind us together, hold us up, and help us move. Your muscles also need your constant attention, because the way you treat them on a daily basis determines whether they will wither or grow. Jeffrey Siegel illustrates how a good mix of sleep, nutrition and exercise keep your muscles as big and strong as possible.
Lesson by Jeffrey Siegel, animation by Brett Underhill.

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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-speaking-multiple-languages-benefits-the-brain-mia-nacamulli
It’s obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier — like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there other advantages to having a bilingual (or multilingual) brain? Mia Nacamulli details the three types of bilingual brains and shows how knowing more than one language keeps your brain healthy, complex and actively engaged.
Lesson by Mia Nacamulli, animation by TED-Ed.

View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-solve-the-bridge-riddle-alex-gendler
Want more? Try the buried treasure riddle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCeklW2e6_E
Taking that internship in a remote mountain lab might not have been the best idea. Pulling that lever with the skull symbol just to see what it did probably wasn’t so smart either. But now is not the time for regrets because you need to get away from these mutant zombies...fast. Can you use math to get you and your friends over the bridge before the zombies arrive? Alex Gendler shows how.
Lesson by Alex Gendler, animation by Artrake Studio.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-makes-tattoos-permanent-claudia-aguirre
The earliest recorded tattoo was found on a Peruvian mummy in 6,000 BC. That's some old ink! And considering humans lose roughly 40,000 skin cells per hour, how do these markings last? Claudia Aguirre details the different methods, machines and macrophages (you'll see) that go into making tattoos stand the test of time.
Lesson by Claudia Aguirre, animation by TOGETHER.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-history-of-the-cuban-missile-crisis-matthew-a-jordan
Imagine going about your life knowing that, at any given moment, you and everyone you know could be wiped out without warning at the push of a button. This was the reality for millions of people during the forty-five year period after World War II now known as the Cold War. Matthew A. Jordan explains the history behind the peak of all this panic — the thirteen days of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Lesson by Mathew A. Jordan, animation by Patrick Smith.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-would-happen-if-you-didn-t-sleep-claudia-aguirre
In the United States, it’s estimated that 30 percent of adults and 66 percent of adolescents are regularly sleep-deprived. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience: staying awake can cause serious bodily harm. Claudia Aguirre shows what happens to your body and brain when you skip sleep.
Lesson by Claudia Aguirre, animation by TED-Ed.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-myth-of-prometheus-iseult-gillespie
Before the creation of humanity, the Greek gods won a great battle against a race of giants called the Titans. Most Titans were destroyed or driven to the eternal hell of Tartarus. But the Titan Prometheus, whose name means foresight, persuaded his brother Epimetheus to fight with him on the side of the Gods. Iseult Gillespie shares the myth of Prometheus.
Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by Léa Krawczyk.
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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-playing-an-instrument-benefits-your-brain-anita-collins
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians' brains when they play, and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workout.
Lesson by Anita Collins, animation by Sharon Colman Graham.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/schrodinger-s-cat-a-thought-experiment-in-quantum-mechanics-chad-orzel
Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger, one of the founders of quantum mechanics, posed this famous question: If you put a cat in a sealed box with a device that has a 50% chance of killing the cat in the next hour, what will be the state of the cat when that time is up? Chad Orzel investigates this thought experiment.
Lesson by Chad Orzel, animation by Agota Vegso.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-makes-something-kafkaesque-noah-tavlin
The term Kafkaesque has entered the vernacular to describe unnecessarily complicated and frustrating experiences, especially with bureaucracy. But does standing in a long line to fill out confusing paperwork really capture the richness of Kafka’s vision? Beyond the word’s casual use, what makes something "Kafkaesque"? Noah Tavlin explains.
Lesson by Noah Tavlin, animation by TED-Ed.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-practice-effectively-for-just-about-anything-annie-bosler-and-don-greene
Mastering any physical skill takes practice. Practice is the repetition of an action with the goal of improvement, and it helps us perform with more ease, speed, and confidence. But what does practice actually do to make us better at things? Annie Bosler and Don Greene explain how practice affects the inner workings of our brains.
Lesson by Annie Bosler and Don Greene, animation by Martina Meštrović.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-solve-the-temple-riddle-dennis-e-shasha
Your expedition finally stands at the heart of the ancient temple. But as you study the inscriptions in the darkness, two wisps of green smoke burst forth. The walls begin to shake. The giant sandglass begins flowing with less than an hour before it empties, and a rumbling tells you that you don’t want to be around when that happens. Can you use math to escape the temple? Dennis E. Shasha shows how.
Lesson by Dennis E. Shasha, animation by Artrake Studio.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-sitting-is-bad-for-you-murat-dalkilinc
Sitting down for brief periods can help us recover from stress or recuperate from exercise. But nowadays, our lifestyles make us sit much more than we move around. Are our bodies built for such a sedentary existence? Murat Dalkilinç investigates the hidden risks of sitting down.
Lesson by Murat Dalkilinç, animation by Oxbow Creative.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/exploring-other-dimensions-alex-rosenthal-and-george-zaidan
Imagine a two-dimensional world -- you, your friends, everything is 2D. In his 1884 novella, Edwin Abbott invented this world and called it Flatland. Alex Rosenthal and George Zaidan take the premise of Flatland one dimension further, imploring us to consider how we would see dimensions different from our own and why the exploration just may be worth it.
Lesson by Alex Rosenthal and George Zaidan, animation by Cale Oglesby.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-makes-a-hero-matthew-winkler
What trials unite not only Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins but many of literature's most interesting heroes? And what do ordinary people have in common with these literary heroes? Matthew Winkler takes us step-by-step through the crucial events that make or break a hero.
Lesson by Matthew Winkler, animation by Kirill Yeretsky.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-immortal-cells-of-henrietta-lacks-robin-bulleri
Imagine something small enough to float on a particle of dust that holds the keys to understanding cancer, virology, and genetics. Luckily for us, such a thing exists in the form of trillions upon trillions of human, lab-grown cells called HeLa. But where did we get these cells? Robin Bulleri tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose DNA led to countless cures, patents, and discoveries.
Lesson by Robin Bulleri, animation by Brandon Denmark.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/can-you-solve-the-prisoner-hat-riddle-alex-gendler
Want more? Try the buried treasure riddle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCeklW2e6_E
You and nine other individuals have been captured by super-intelligent alien overlords. The aliens think humans look quite tasty, but their civilization forbids eating highly logical and cooperative beings. Unfortunately, they’re not sure whether you qualify, so they decide to give you all a test. Can you solve this hat riddle? Alex Gendler shows how.
Lesson by Alex Gendler, animation by Artrake Studio.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-great-conspiracy-against-julius-caesar-kathryn-tempest
On March 15th, 44 BCE, Roman dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of about 60 of his own senators. Why did these self-titled Liberators want him dead? And why did Brutus, whose own life had been saved by Caesar, join in the plot? Kathryn Tempest investigates the personal and political assassination of Julius Caesar.
Lesson by Kathryn Tempest, animation by Brett Underhill.

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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-don-t-perpetual-motion-machines-ever-work-netta-schramm
Perpetual motion machines — devices that can do work indefinitely without any external energy source — have captured many inventors’ imaginations because they could totally transform our relationship with energy. There’s just one problem: they don’t work. Why not? Netta Schramm describes the pitfalls of perpetual motion machines.
Lesson by Netta Schramm, animation by TED-Ed.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-berlin-wall-konrad-h-jarausch
On August 13, 1961, construction workers began tearing up streets and erecting barriers in Berlin. This night marked the beginning of one of history’s most infamous dividing lines: the Berlin Wall. Construction continued for a decade as the wall cut through neighborhoods, separated families, and divided not just Germany, but the world. Konrad H. Jarausch details the history of the Berlin Wall.
Lesson by Konrad H. Jarausch, directed by Remus & Kiki.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-psychology-of-narcissism-w-keith-campbell
Narcissism isn’t just a personality type that shows up in advice columns; it’s actually a set of traits classified and studied by psychologists. But what causes it? And can narcissists improve on their negative traits? W. Keith Campbell describes the psychology behind the elevated and sometimes detrimental self-involvement of narcissists.
Lesson by W. Keith Campbell, animation by TOGETHER.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/who-were-the-vestal-virgins-and-what-was-their-job-peta-greenfield
In ancient Rome, Vestal Virgins were tasked with keeping vigil over the flame of Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth. The flame represented two things: the continuation of Rome as a power in the world and the continuing virginity of Vesta’s priestesses. But what was life really like for these Vestal Virgins? Peta Greenfield goes back in time to find out.
Lesson by Peta Greenfield, animation by Kozmonot Animation Studio.

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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-cats-act-so-weird-tony-buffington
They’re cute, they’re lovable, and judging by the 26 billion views on over 2 million YouTube videos of them, one thing is certain: cats are very entertaining. But their strange feline behaviors, both amusing and baffling, leave many of us asking: Why do cats do that? Tony Buffington explains the science behind some of your cat’s strangest behaviors.
Lesson by Tony Buffington, animation by Chintis Lundgren.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/history-s-deadliest-colors-j-v-maranto
When radium was first discovered, its luminous green color inspired people to add it into beauty products and jewelry. It wasn’t until much later that we realized that radium’s harmful effects outweighed its visual benefits. Unfortunately, radium isn’t the only pigment that historically seemed harmless or useful but turned out to be deadly. J. V. Maranto details history’s deadliest colors.
Lesson by J. V. Maranto, animation by Juan M. Urbina.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-benefits-of-good-posture-murat-dalkinic
Has anyone ever told you, “Stand up straight!” or scolded you for slouching at a family dinner? Comments like that might be annoying—but they’re not wrong. Your posture is the foundation for every movement your body makes and can determine how well your body adapts to the stresses on it. Murat Dalkilinç gives the pros of good posture.
Lesson by Murat Dalkilinç, animation by Nadav Arbel.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-orwellian-really-means-noah-tavlin
If you’ve watched the news or followed politics, chances are you’ve heard the term Orwellian thrown around in one context or another. But have you ever stopped to think about what it really means, or why it’s used so often? Noah Tavlin dissects the term.
Lesson by Noah Tavlin, animation by TED-Ed.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-science-of-attraction-dawn-maslar
Romantic chemistry is all about warm, gooey feelings that gush from the deepest depths of the heart...right? Not quite. Actually, the real boss behind attraction is your brain, which runs through a very quick, very complex series of calculations when assessing a potential partner. Dawn Maslar explores how our five senses contribute to this mating game, citing some pretty wild studies along the way.
Lesson by Dawn Maslar, animation by TOGETHER.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-incompetent-people-think-they-re-amazing-david-dunning
How good are you with money? What about reading people’s emotions? How healthy are you, compared to other people you know? Knowing how our skills stack up against others is useful in many ways. But psychological research suggests that we’re not very good at evaluating ourselves accurately. In fact, we frequently overestimate our own abilities. David Dunning describes the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Lesson by David Dunning, directed by Wednesday Studio, music and sound by Tom Drew.
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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-myth-of-icarus-and-daedalus-amy-adkins
In mythological ancient Greece, Icarus flew above Crete on wings made from wax and feathers, defying the laws of man and nature. To witnesses on the ground, he looked like a god, and he felt like one too. But, in his society, the line that separated god from man was absolute, and the punishment for mortals who attempted to cross it was severe. Amy Adkins explains the myth of Icarus and Daedalus.
Lesson by Amy Adkins, animation by TED-Ed.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-smart-are-dolphins-lori-marino
Dolphins are one of the smartest animal species on Earth. In fact, their encephalization quotient (their brain size compared to the average for their body size) is second only to humans. But exactly how smart are they? Lori Marino details some incredible facts about dolphins.
Lesson by Lori Marino, animation by Zedem Media.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/meet-the-tardigrade-the-toughest-animal-on-earth-thomas-boothby
Without water, a human can only survive for about 100 hours. But there’s a creature so resilient that it can go without it for decades. This 1-millimeter animal can survive both the hottest and coldest environments on earth, and can even withstand high levels of radiation. Thomas Boothby introduces us to the tardigrade, one of the toughest creatures on Earth.
Lesson by Thomas Boothby, animation by Boniato Studio.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-are-some-people-left-handed-daniel-m-abrams
Today, about one-tenth of the world’s population are southpaws. Why are such a small proportion of people left-handed -- and why does the trait exist in the first place? Daniel M. Abrams investigates how the uneven ratio of lefties and righties gives insight into a balance between competitive and cooperative pressures on human evolution.
Lesson by Daniel M. Abrams, animation by TED-Ed.

View full lesson on ed.ted.com: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-airlines-sell-too-many-tickets-nina-klietsch
Have you ever sat in a doctor’s office for hours, despite having an appointment? Has a hotel turned down your reservation because it’s full? Have you been bumped off a flight that you paid for? These are all symptoms of overbooking, a practice where businesses sell or book more than their capacity. So why do they do it? Nina Klietsch explains the math behind this frustrating practice.
Lesson by Nina Klietsch, animation by Anton Trofimov.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-treadmill-s-dark-and-twisted-past-conor-heffernan
The constant thud underneath your feet. The constrained space. The monotony of going nowhere fast. Running on a treadmill can certainly feel like torture, but did you know it was originally used for that very purpose? Conor Heffernan details the dark and twisted history of the treadmill.
Lesson by Conor Heffernan, animation by Yukai Du.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/where-do-superstitions-come-from-stuart-vyse
Are you afraid of black cats? Would you open an umbrella indoors? How do you feel about the number 13? Whether or not you believe in them, you’re probably familiar with a few of these superstitions. But where did they come from? Stuart Vyse shares the weird and specific origins of some of our favorite superstitions.
Lesson by Stuart Vyse, directed by TED-Ed.
Animation by Jérémie Balais and Jeff Le Bars: http://jeremiebalais.com/ - http://jefflebars.com/

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-dyslexia-kelli-sandman-hurley
Dyslexia affects up to 1 in 5 people, but the experience of dyslexia isn't always the same. This difficulty in processing language exists along a spectrum -- one that doesn't necessarily fit with labels like "normal" and "defective." Kelli Sandman-Hurley urges us to think again about dyslexic brain function and to celebrate the neurodiversity of the human brain.
Lesson by Kelli Sandman-Hurley, animation by Marc Christoforidis.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-difference-between-classical-and-operant-conditioning-peggy-andover
Why is it that humans react to stimuli with certain behaviors? Can behaviors change in response to consequences? Peggy Andover explains how the brain can associate unrelated stimuli and responses, proved by Ivan Pavlov's famous 1890 experiments, and how reinforcement and punishment can result in changed behavior.
Lesson by Peggy Andover, animation by Alan Foreman.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-batteries-die-adam-jacobson
Batteries are a triumph of science—they allow smartphones and other technologies to exist without anchoring us to an infernal tangle of power cables. Yet even the best batteries will diminish daily, slowly losing capacity until they finally die. Why does this happen, and how do our batteries even store so much charge in the first place? Adam Jacobson gives the basics on batteries.
Lesson by Adam Jacobson, animation by FOX Animation Domination High-Def.

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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-would-happen-if-you-didn-t-drink-water-mia-nacamulli
Water is essentially everywhere in our world, and the average human is composed of between 55 and 60% water. So what role does water play in our bodies, and how much do we actually need to drink to stay healthy? Mia Nacamulli details the health benefits of hydration.
Lesson by Mia Nacamulli, animation by Chris Bishop.

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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-sugar-affects-the-brain-nicole-avena
When you eat something loaded with sugar, your taste buds, your gut and your brain all take notice. This activation of your reward system is not unlike how bodies process addictive substances such as alcohol or nicotine -- an overload of sugar spikes dopamine levels and leaves you craving more. Nicole Avena explains why sweets and treats should be enjoyed in moderation.
Lesson by Nicole Avena, animation by STK Films.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-myth-of-cupid-and-psyche-brendan-pelsue
Psyche was born so beautiful that she was worshipped as a new incarnation of Venus, the goddess of love. But human lovers were too intimidated to approach her, and Apollo recommended her father abandon her on a crag where she would marry “a cruel and savage, serpent-like winged evil.” But Psyche’s story ended up being much more interesting. Brendan Pelsue shares the myth of Cupid and Psyche.
Lesson by Brendan Pelsue, directed by TED-Ed.

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